Republicans stoop to new lows with 'drinking parties'

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seacoastonline.com

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Posted Apr. 1, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted Apr. 1, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

To the Editor:

The Koch brothers' group, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), has initiated a new effort to exert their control over American health care. By now, most of us are aware of their cynical attempt to manipulate results of elections by getting their allies in the Republican Party to pass unnecessary, restrictive voting laws to prevent or discourage reliably Democratic voters from voting. Recently, a new, just as sinister scheme, has surfaced. The AFP has been hosting drinking parties at colleges and universities around the country, with the sole aim being to bribe college students not to sign up for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

On March 20, AFP-NH, a Koch funded group called Generation Opportunity, and the College Republicans held one of these events for students at UNH. At the event, held at the Dover Brickyard just off campus, each student attending was given a ticket for two free alcoholic beverages and information designed to discourage them not to sign up for new benefits and financial assistance for which they are eligible. Another such event was scheduled to be held at Dartmouth University on March 25.

A news report in the Tampa Bay Times describes a similar event held at Virginia Tech as follows:

"Lured by free beer, gift cards and the chance to win an iPad, 100 students heard a pitch from the young staffers of a group named Generation Opportunity: Obamacare is a bad deal, and you should opt out."

The Times goes on to report that a "blueprint for an upcoming tailgate calls for games such as beer pong and cornhole, free Taco Bell and beer."

Trading alcohol for political support is reminiscent of the bad old days when ward healers bought votes with whiskey.